Power transmitting coupling



Jan.112, 19 3. F. L. WHITE 2,308,137

POWER TRANSMITTING COUPLING Original Filed Feb. 10, 1940 F/G2 Ill J7 J744 4 un 07? 56 60 2s Ar 5 I 5 36a." f

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. INVENTOR. FRED L.WH/ TE BY L J2 39 if v Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNETEDST POWER- TRAN'SMITTING COUPLING Fred L. White, Marion, Ohio, assignorto The Osgood Company, Marion, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio 11 Claims.(Cl. 137-78) This invention relates to couplings and in its morespecific aspects relates to coupling devices employable in tractiondevices adaptable to transmit motive power for steering and forpropelling such traction devices.

The object of this invention is to construct a coupling device adaptedto transmit mechanical and hydraulic power.

A further object of the invention is to couple the means fortransmitting mechanical power and the means for transmitting pressurefluid such that the devices are arranged about a common axis of rotationrelatively of each other.

Another object of the invention is to construct *compound coupling suchthat relative rotative lotion may be accomplished without loss ofpresxure fluid and without disturbing the transmis- :ion of mechanicalpower.

Another and still iurther'object of the inven- .on i to construct acompound coupling in which he several parts mutually support each otherand rhich are capable of ready and easy dis-assembly or repair andinspection. 7

Other and further objects of the invention are to reduce the cost ofmanufacture, prevent losses of power within the coupling and to simplifyits construction.

Other and'iurther objects of the invention will appear to those skilledin the arts to which this invention pertains as the description proceedswhich taken in connection with the accompanying drawing sets forth apreferred embodiment of the invention but such disclosures anddescriptions are not to be construed as a limitation of the inventionwhich is limited only by the 'appended claims and any and allalterations, modifications and variations of structure coming within thespirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be included herein.

In the drawing;

Figure 1 shows a vertical section view of the compound coupling.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the upper end of the coupling insection.

This application is a division of my previous application Serial No.318,332, filed February 10, 1940, which has been issued as Patent No.2,254,192, granted June 24, 1941.

In portable excavators and similar pieces of equipment it is verydesirable that the mechanism' for transmitting power from someappropriate source located on one part of the machine; e. g. the deck;to another part used for locomotion purposes and means for actuating thesteering mechanism part of which is located on the deck of the machineand conducting its motive power to another part be transmitted down andthrough a common coupling mechanism such that when the machine parts aremoved relatively of each other that may be also controlled from a singleposition. It is frequently desirable to use pressure fluid of onevariety or another to actuate the steering mechanism and this inventionis therefore primarily concerned with a compound coupling mechanismcapable of transmitting both mechanical power and pressure fluid inwhich the several coupling parts are complemental to each other and inwhich each part functions in its own sphere but in which the parts aremutually dependent upon each other for support.

The above results are achieved by the use of a mechanism disclosed inthe drawing in which 20 indicates a part. of a coupling support which issecured to the frame of a traction device and 22 indicates part of theplatform or deck device. Parts 20 and 22 rotate relatively of .eachother by means of coupling 2!; the part 20 being in the specificinstance attached to the crawler of a crane or excavator and 22 beingthe part to which the cab is secured and which mounts a source of power,the transmission and the controls therefor and 2! indicates generallythe mechanism whereby power is transmitted to the crawler, the power forgoverning the steering of the device and for selectively rotatingsupporting parts 20 and 22.

The. source of power previously mentioned which usually originates insome form of motor is by a suitable transmission applied to a gear 28rotatably supported on a pin 26a fixed in the deck 22 and then by meansof another gear system (not shown) is connected to the gear 25. Gear 25has a hub 25a, into which pinion sleeve element 24 is snugly fitted andwhich sleeve has snugly fitted onto its lower end the hub l5a of a bevelgear i5 which is adapted to be operatively associated with the mechanismfor traversing the crawler device. The gears 25 and I5 and. the sleeve24 to which they are secured are rotatably supported in a sleeve 27fixed. in the part 20 and at its other end rotatably supports element 22by means of a bearing 22'. Sleeve 21 is threaded at its upper end andhas a retaining element 28 threadably secured thereon which elementbears.

on bearing element 29 such as to aid in'permitting the relative rotationof parts 20 and 22. To facilitate the relative rotation of gear 25 andshaft or supporting sleeve 21 a bearing 30 is interposed between them.It should be apparent each have a three way valve 65 and 65 incorporatedin the line each of which is operable by means of handles 55 and 66',One of the valves controls the steering in one direction and the othervalve controls the steeringin the other direction. The conduits 5? and58 are then lead to a pressure fluid coupling 4! having a housing orcasing 48 which is rigidly secured tothe deck 22 through means of anintermediate supporting element 23; the housing 48 being appropriatelyported to receive the conduits 5'! and 58.

The coupling 4'! comprises a housing 48 which has concentricallyarranged therein a core element comprising a main body 3! havingpassageways or ports 44 and d5 formed therein. These ports extend intothe body 3! and then turn downwardly into the portion of the body thatis flanged or collared as at 6! and has a bearing 62a interposed betweenthe flange or collar 6! and a flange $2 on the housing 48 to permit therelative rotation of the parts. Surrounding the body 3! are a pair ofinternally and externally grooved rings 53 and 55 ported at 59 and 60which by reason of their construction are adapted to transmit pressurefluid in any relative rotational position of the body 3! and the housinge8. Sui-mountin the body 3! and snugly fitting the interior of thecasing 48 is a cap element 49 secured to the body 3! by means of nutelements 5!, 5! threaded onto studs 55, 59 turned into the body 3 I.Leakage to the atmosphere and from one conduit to the other of thepressure fluid is prevented by means of a plurality of packing rings 52,54, 56 interposed between the rings 53 and 55 and the collar 6! and thecap 49 and each of the rings 53 and 55. When excessive wear has beenimposed on the parts causing leakage it may be compensated or preventedby tensioning studs 56, 56.

Pressure fluid is conducted through the rotatable elements inappropriate conduits and means for supporting them are providedcomprising a torsion resisting tube 56 which is snugly fitted onto theflange of a collar element 63 which element is directly engaged by thelower end of body 3 l. The other end of the tube 40 terminates in a headstructure 39 provided with a pair of ports 32 and 33. The head structure39 is fixed to and supported directly on a bridging element 4! held insupport or part 2!].

Disposed within the tube 48 are two conduits 42 and 43 which areconnected between the ports 44 and 45 in the body 3! and the ports 32and 33' in the head 33. The ports 44 and 45 in the body 3! at theirlower ends are counterbored and these counterbores receive the conduits42 and 2-3. A similar expedient is used in the head structure 39.

It is evident from the foregoing that the tube 1-!) is rigidly held inthe coupling device 4'! and is adapted to resist the torsional strainsimposed by reason of the turning action of gears 25 and i5 and thepinion sleeve 24 and the rotational motion of the deck or part 22.Therefore since the tube 46 is held against twisting or torsion theconduits 42 and 43 are likewise prevented from twisting which results inholding the body 3! rigid. Pressure fluid, therefore, is conducted inany rotational position of the body 3! and the element or deck 22 andcasing 48 secured thereto to the ultimate devices while the rotationalelements !5, 24, and 25 are rotating thereby insuring operation at anytime of the several elements of the device in which the coupling isemployed.

That which is considered new, novel and useful and which is sought to beprotected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A fluid and power transmitting coupling for transmitting mechanicalpower and fluid from a first member toanother member rotatable relativeto said first member which comprises; a first means connecting saidmembers and adapted to support said members for relative rotation; ahollow relatively rotatable shaft mounted in said first means; a tubularelement mounted in said shaft and held stationary with respect to saidshaft; a second supporting means'fixed on one of said members; a thirdmeans held insaidsecond supporting means and'p-rovided with a'pair ofcircumferentially grooved rings and secured to said tubular element atits one Iend, the other end of said tubular element fixed to said othermember; a pair of conduits mounted insaid tubular element and connectedto said pair of grooved. rings on said third means, said tubular elementpreventing twisting of said. conduits when said members rotaterelatively of each other; conduits rigidly secured in said secondsupporting means and connected to said pair'of grooved rings; and meansto prevent leakage of pressure fluid from said second-and third meansand between said grooved rings, said conduit and said supporting means.1

2. A pressure fluid and power transmitting coupling for transmittingmechanical power and pressure fluid from one member toa second memberrotatable relative to said first member; means to support said membersfor relative rotation; a hollow shaft mounted for rotation in saidmeans; a casing fixed on one of said members; a coupling core mounted insaid casing and including a pair of circumferentially grooved rings anda pair of passageways formed insaid core; a .tubular element in saidhollow shaft and secured to said core at its one end, the other end ofsaid tubular element fixed to said second member; conduits within saidtubular element connected to each of said groovedrings through saidpassageways; conduits associated with saidcasing and connected to eachofsaidgrooved-rings; said core and tubular element-keeping said'conduitsin said tubularelement inapredetermined relation during relativerotationof'said members and said shaft; and means to prevent leakage ofpressure fluid from said casing and core.

3. A fluid transmitting coupling for transmitting pressure fluid fromone member to another member rotatable relative to said one member whichcomprises; a casing mounted on one of said members; a core memberdisposed within said casing; said casing and core being relativelyrotatable; said core having a pair of grooved rings thereon and a pairof passageways formed therein; a pair of conduits communicating with andarranged in said casing; a pair of conduits arranged in said core andcommunicating with said grooved rings through said passageways; packingmeans disposed between said rings, said core and said casing to preventleakage of pressure fluid when it is being transmitted through saidgrooved rings; and means to take up wear and vary the density of saidpacking means.

e. A fluid transmitting coupling for transmitting pressure fiuid fromone member to another member rotatable relative to the first. memberwhich comprises; a fixed casing on one of said members; a core member insaid casing; said core member having a pair of passageways therein; saidcasing and said core being relatively rotatable; a pair of ports in saidcasing; a pair of ported pressure fluid conducting rings supported onsaid core and arranged to transmit pressure fluid to said corepassageways; a tubular element rigidly fixed to said core at its one endand to the other of said members at its other end remote from said core;a pair of conduits carried within said tubular element and connected tosaid passageways, said conduits rigidly mounted in said tubular elementand said tubular element adapted to resist any torsional strain imposedon said core and conduits when rotated relatively to said casing.

5. A fluid and power transmitting coupling for transmitting mechanicalpower and pressure fluid from one member to another member rotatablerelative to the first member which comprises; a cylindrical supportingelement connecting said members; a frame mounted on one of said members;a hollow power transmitting shaft supported in said cylindrical elementfor relative rotation with said cylindrical element; a tube disposedwithin said shaft; means to support said tube therein; a pressure fluidconducting coupling device mounted on said frame, said coupling devicecomprising a casing carried by said frame and a core fixed to said tube,said core and easing being relatively rotatable; a pair of conduitsfixed in said tube and connected to said core; a pair of conduitsconnected to said casing; and passageways in said core arranged totransmit pressure fluid from one pair of conduits to the otherirrespective of the relative rotational position of said casing and saidcore.

6. In a rotary coupling comprising; a casing; a core rotatable relativethereto; a pair of externally and internally grooved rings on said coreprovided with a plurality of apertures establishing communicationbetween the internal and associated external groove of each pair ofgrooves, said core having a pair of passageways therein arranged tocommunicate respectively with the internal grooves of each of saidrings; said casing having a pair of apertures arranged to communicaterespectively with the external grooves of each of said rings; a conduitconnected with each of said apertures in said casing; said rings adaptedto maintain a constant connection between said casing apertures and saidpassageways; and packing means adapted to prevent pressure fluid fromleaking to the atmosphere and from one passageway to the other.

7. A fluid and power transmitting coupling for transmitting mechanicalpower and pressure fluid from one member to another member rotatablerelative to the first member which comprises; a cylindrical elementconnected between said members; a shaft mounted for relative rotation insaid cylindrical element; a tube disposed within said shaft for relativerotation with respect to said shaft; a pressure fluid coupling includinga casing rigidly mounted on one of said members and a core thereinsecured to said tube, said casing and said core being relativelyrotatable the end of said tube remote from said casing fixed to theother of said members, said core having passageways therein; a pair ofconduits disposed within said tube and associated with said corepassageways; a pair of conduits connected to said casing; said corepassageways arranged to conduct pressure fluid from one pair of conduitsto the other; and means in said coupling to prevent leakage from oneconduit to theother and to the atmosphere. V

8. A fluid and. power transmitting coupling for transmitting mechanicalpower and pressure fluid from one member to another member rotatablerelative to the first member which includes; sleeve means to supportsaid members for relative rotation; means to support a pinion in saidsleeve for relative rotation; a tube disposed within said pinion andheld against rotation relative to said pinion; a pair of conduits insaid tube; a coupling casing fixedly mounted on one of said members andconcentrically arranged with respect to said tube and pinion, said tubeat its end remote from said coupling casing fixed to the other of saidmembers; a coupling core rigidly secured to said tube and placed withinsaid casing, said core and easing being relatively rotatable; a pair ofconduits secured to said casing; said core having a pair of passagewaystherein, said tube conduits connected to said core passageways; andmeans on said core arranged such that each of said pairs of conduits arekept permanently interiorly connected in any relative rotative positionof said core and easing.

9. A fluid and power transmitting coupling for transmitting mechanicalpower and pressure fluid from one member to another member rotatablrelative to the first member which includes; sleeve means suppOrtingsaid members for relative rotation; a pinion in said sleeve mounted forrelative rotation with respect to said sleeve; a thin walled torsionresisting tube in said pinion and held against rotation relative to saidpinion; a coupling housing fixed on one of said members concentricallymounted with respect to said thin walled tube, the end of said tuberemote from said coupling casing fixed to the other of said members; acoupling core in said casing and directly secured to one end of saidthin walled tube, said core having a pair of passageways therein;conduits in said tube and connected to each of said core passageways;conduit openings in said casing and connectible to said corepassageways; and means on said core adapted to keep said conduits andconduit openings connected for the transmission or pressure fluidirrespective of the relative rotative position of said casing and saidcore.

10. A fluid and power transmitting coupling for transmitting mechanicalpower and pressure fluid from one member to another member rotatablerelative to the first member which includes; sleeve and pinion meansconnecting said members for rotation relatively of each other; acoupling casing fixed on one of said members; a pair of conduitsconnected to said casing; a thin walled tube in said pinion means andheld against 7 rotation therein; a coupling core rigidly fixed to saidtube and placed in said coupling casing and the end of said tube remotefrom the coupling casing fixed to the other of said members, said corehaving a pair of passageways therein; a pair of conduits rigidly held insaid tube andconnectible to said pair of passageways; ring means toconnect said casing supported conduits to the core passageways in anyrelative rotative position nected to said passageways; ring means onsaid core arranged to connect said two pairs of con duits irrespectiveof the relative rotative position of said core and casing; packing meansin said coupling arranged to prevent the leakage of pressure fluid tothe atmosphere and from one conduit to the other; and means to take upwear and slack in said packing means.

FRED L. WHITE.

. CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,308,157, January 12, 19LL5.

FRED L- l/J'HITE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction as follows: In the heading to the printedspecifies.- tion, lines "I and 8, and first column, line 1+8; date ofpatent, for "June 2h, 19m" read --1ugust 26, 19M"; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with this Correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of March, A. D. 1914.5.

, v Henry Van Arsdale,w

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

